Egg carton setup machine



June 22, 1965 A. E. RANDLEs, JR 3,190,193

' EGG CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 UM U INVENTOR #er/me 5 94A/pui, Jia

A TIO/PNE ys June 22, 1965 A. E. RANDLES, JR 3,190,193

EGG' CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,4er/wi i. ,3M/mii, Ji,

A 7' TORNEVS June Z2, 1965 A. E. RANDLEs, JR

EGG CARTON SETUP MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Feb. 6, 196:5

INVENTOR 4er/we wauw/.

June 22, 1965 A E. RANDLES, JR

EGG CARTON SETUP MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. e, 1963 INVENTOR. #27m/Pi, Pa/MI5, d?,

A Top/v5 ys June 22, 1965 A. E. RANDLES, JR 3,190,193

EGG CARTON SETUP MACHINE l Filed Feb. 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 4er/fai I ,3m/m5,@

M@ g @d A TO/PNEVS June 22, 1965 A. E. RANDLES, JR

EGG CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Feb.- e, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. www i, i/vaux@ A 7' TORNEVS June 22 1965 A. E. RANDLEs, JR 3,190,193

EGG CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Feb. e, 196s 8 sheets-sheet '7 zNvENToR. #www EPM/.0455, J,

mig/14,76%WW A rio@ NE ys June 22, 1965 A. E. RANDLEs, JR 3,190,193

. vEGG' CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Feb. e, 1965 s sheets-sheet s INVENTOR. ier/fue i, PAA/m55. Jl,

Bl-7@ ,i MaJ/7L A TTORNEVS United States Patent O 3,190,193 f EGG CARTON SETUP MACHINE Arthur E. Randles, Jr., 3000 Middleeld Road,

' Redwood City, Calif.

Filed Feb. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 256,667 1 Claim. (Cl. 93-37) My invention relates to mechanisms for erecting car tons into useable form tto receive eggs. VThe cartons are initially provided in the form of blanks. `'Ihese are customarily fabricated of berboard or cardboard and are cut, scored, perforated and glued to provide a carton `blank which, when erected, has individual compartments for the eggs and has `a cover overlying the eggs. One form of carton is also distinguished by an inverted V-shaped reentrant portion running along and upstanding from the bottom. This is interlocked with a number of transversepartitions so as to provide a central supporting wall extending from the base to the cover for strength. A

fcarton tof ythis kind is shown in Patent No. 2,946,497

issued Iuly 26, 1960. The carton blanks are furnished with a lower panel having a plain trailing portion and a number of apertures in the leading portion thereof. There is also an upper panel folded at the leading edge and overlying the leading portion only of the ilower panel and having its trailing end glued to the subjacent lower panel.

Itis an object of the inventin to provide a machine for receiving carton blanks in their partially folded and Aglued condition and erecting the blanks into rectangular bodies for reception of eggs.

lAnother object ofthe invention isjtoprovide a machine which will automatically feed blanks in succession and Verect them into egg receiving condition and discharge them from the machine.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a carton setup machine effective to erect acarton having a reentrant, inverted V-shapedportion :running along the bot- `torn thereof and interlocking with a number of transverse partitions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an egg carton setup machine that operates well with cartons as `commercially supplied despite the fact that they vary ,Somewhat in size from time to time eitherV by design or at Vrandom due to variations in humidity and other factors which change the dimensions of -the berboard or paper stock.

t A still furtherobject of Athe invention'is to provide an in the form of the invention describedin the accompany- "ing description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Y e

FIGURE 1 is an elevation from the rear -or feeding thickness.

`ice

FIGURE 4- -is Vet detailed partial view, being illustrated 1 in section, the plane of which is taken-on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section showing a portion of the machine in section as indicated by the line 5--5 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURES 4 and 5, but showing a portion of the machine in cross section, the planeof which is illustrated by the lines 6 6 of FIG- URE 11; Y

FIGURE 7 is a view like FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, being a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1; Y

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail showing in plan a part of the conveyor mechanism-for advancing the erected cartons; Y Y

FIGURE 9 is a plan of the obverse face of a carton .blank as itis initially fed into the machine;

FIGURE 10a a view Similar te FIGURE 9, butts e plan of the reverse' face Vof the carton blank of FIGURE 9; FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of an erected egg carton pursuant lto the invention, a portion of the carton being removed toreduce the size of the ligure; and

FIGURE l2 isa side elevation of a number of erected egg cartons in the discharge position after the machine is ,shown herein and particularly for use in connection with p cartons of Vthe, sort shown in FIGURES 9-12 inclusive. Cartons of this sort are well known in the trade and are described in detail in the above-identified patent. They comprise a generally rectangular sheet 6 of paper stock or iiberboard material folded along a fold line 7 to pro- -vide a lower panel 8 having aleading portion V9 and a n trailing portion 11.

Disposed over the leading portion of the lower panel is an upper panel 12 at its trailing edge 13 securedby glue or comparable adhesive to the lower panel. The leading portion'of the carton blank has a double thickness and the .trailing portion has but a single There are numerous score lines 16 and cut lines 17. These are provided particularly for the interengagement of various portions of the carton. The forward portion of the lower panel is also provided with a canreadily be separated into two equivalent half packages. yThe cartonblank generally is of a standard size, but may vvaryslightly in dimension due to changes in humidity and other atmospheric effects. The carton blank may change in -detail construction from timeV to Vtime depending on egg carton erecting machine which is direct and positive e end of the egg cartonv setup machine pursuant to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a machine; Y FIGURE 3 is a plan of the egg carton machine,V the side elevationtof the eggcarton feeding .other considerations, but generally is handled in quantityl in the machine of the present invention. When erected the carton hasa number ot partitions 21 and 22 turned on hinge lines 23 and `24 to assumeV a generally upright position. Thrust upwardly'Y between the partitions are `folded portions 26 of the lower panel 8, these opstanding portions 26 forming an inverted V andfhaving projecy tions 27 interengaging in openings 28 inthe partitions to provide interlocks.

Aextendingit'rorn `ont-fend of the machine to the other with certain openings andinterruptions therein. The table, as

eimnar te FIGURE 4, but

especially shown in FIGURE Y3, is n ularand is inclined downwardly in the direction of ad Vance of the cartons, although this is not essential and `serving as positioning stops for a pile or stack of cartonV blanks of` the Asort described.A These carton blanks are positioned over a roller 35 against the bars-34 and are partly positioned by upstandingstops V36 so that they are Ylocated in order. The cartons are'all arranged withfthe `lower panels downwardly and with theY upper panels over- -lying the forward portion thereof on the upper side, ap.

pearing as illustrated in FIGURE 9 when seen from above.

"The bars 34-arre adjustable lengthwise and are slightly spaced fromy the table 32 to lleave a passageway 37 of sufiicient height toraccomrnodate buta singleY one Yofjthe double thickness cartonblanksV at any one time.. The vheight of the passageway 37 is adjustable.l i

Acting periodically during the Voperation of thermachinre y'isfa means for individually withdrawing the lowermost v one 'of the carton blanks from the stack. Thismeans includes a group of radial feeding lingers 38, each ,extending from a rotaryr shaft 39 mounted in journals 41 on the 'frame 31. A sprocket 42 on the shaft S9-is driven byy a lchain 43'from a cross sha-ft 44 also mounted on the frame 31. An intermediate sprocket 46 is also secured on Vthe shaft 44- and is connected by an intermediate chain 47 to a sprocket 4S on a chain shaft 49 journalled on the frameV Y 31. A drive belt 51 is in engagementwith a drivenjpulley 52 and a drive pulley 53, the former being secured Yto the Vshaft 49 and the latter beingrarranged on a shaft 54 mounted on the frame. Another belt; 56 extends'from a pulley 57 on the shaftS-/t to a drive pully 58 on a variable speed drive 59 joined to a motor 61. The variable speed drive 59 affordsV some adjustment in the capacity .for output rate of the machine and is etfectirve ,to drive Ythrough the various belts andv chains, so that the feeding 'rfingers 3S make one revolution at an appropriate time;

When the shaft 39 revolves, the fingers 38 periodically draw or start the Withdrawal of theA lower blank from the stack. V AsY it is so advanced and withdrawn, the lower blank is brought with its leading doublev edge into immediate juxtaposition with a pair of feeding rolls ,ordrive rollers 66 4andf67.` The uppermost ofk these VrollersisV just above Y j ,the table 32.,V whereasthe'top of the lowermost of theVY roll- V ers is substantially tangent to Ythesurface of the table.

*The two rollers are of yieldable material and are normally iV in fairly light contact, so that they rotate inunison in a 'feeding direction. VRotation of the; ylowerfrollerV occurs since the lowerroller 67 is provided. with'a sprocket 68 connected by a chain 69 toa sprocket 71'V on the shaft 49.`

As the lowermost detached carton blankV is kadvanced through thepassageway 37theiriingersj38, it passes over an idler roll 72 (FIGURE 4). and engagesrbetween the drive rollers 66 and 67.'Y Thereupon ther'rollers 66 andr67 continue the'withdrawal of the lowermostcarton blank fromthestack and advance theY withdrawn'carton blank entirelythrough the aperture 37. .Y Y. f

The table on the discharge side of the feedl rollers is spanned by an arch 73 'mounted on the frame.. Depends ing yfrom the arch is a brake plate 74 secured in such approximately rectang- 4 L Y Y a fashion asto provide a converging throat 76. The plate 74 is conveniently of a somewhat springy material and is so closely approached to the upper surface of the; table l 32 as to provide a restricted'passage 77 in `conjunction therewith.

n VAs the detached carton blank begins to emerge from the drive rollers'66 and 67, it is fed into the converging throat 76 and introduced into the restricted passage 77. The rollers are effective to advance'thel carton blank against the restraining friction'A ofthe brake plate 74 until suchtime as the advancing blank disengages from the frollersf The particular position at which the blank stops on the table 32 is not precisely fixed, but occursrwithin a'reasonable "area or zone, dependingrupon the velocity ofrotation of l5 the feed rollers, theV particular amountof friction'irnp'osed by the brake plate V74-andother factors,'such as the. co-4 yeiicient of friction offthe material of the carton. Even though the precise Vstopping place of the carton blank is propriaterfor further handling.

' n In the stop zone, asshown in FIGURE l5, 'the thereto-k l fore hat carton is subjectedk to a partial lifting operation.

On a cross shaft 31 suitably supported on the frame 31 is 84 is itself connected by a pivot pin-88 to a rocker lever` Y39 having a journal 91 mounted to rotate on a shaft 92 on the frame 31. 'The rock'erlever 89 carries a camfol- 95 secured to the shaft 44,l `Thus, as the shaftV 44 rotates 'the cam Yfollower 93 causes a corresponding oscillation of the shaft 81 and the movement of the opening fingers 82 between a retracted position shown by the dotted lines: in FIGURE 5 and the .full line positiony shown therein.

The vlifting fingers move from-their retracted position through an appropriate gap inthe tableV 32 and travelA upwardly through theV openings 18111 the forwardpart 40. of the leading portion 9 of the lower, panel 3.1, The openencounter the superposed upperV panel 12 which Vhas no 'openings therein inY this area. fingers 82.1ift the Vupper Vpanel andy separate `it frornfthe lower panel substantially as shownV FIGURE 5.v The Yuppermost position as established Vbythe Vshape of the cam groove 947,v and hence serve as precise stopsorlocators for the positioning of the carton blank. At thisrstage, there.-

lfore, the carton blank vis appropriately positioned and` aligned andthe upper panel is lifted slightly yfromthe lowerlpanel, ,p Y Y. I In this position, the carton blank underlies: a fixed i erecting head 101 (FIGURE 6) which 'bridges the table 32 Yas it-eXtends from one side to `the othergof the frame 31. The erecting head 101 has certain upright faces 102 and Y103.` These arerefrerred to kas-upright 'sincethey be inclinedto ther-vertical.

While the cr:arton4blankV is partly opened and heldl by the opening lingers 82, ainumber of erecting lingers 106 be` v Y come effective. These are all mounted on across bar 107 secured to a lever mechanismlt mounted on a crossl shaft 1639 secured to the frame 31. Therlever mechanism 1 65108 is movedlfrom the broken-line position shownpin vrrevolves and causes an oscillation of the `,rockerlever 114 notrxed, the blank does stop within an area or zone aplower93 situated in a cam groove 94 formedin'a cam ing lingers 82m rising above the levelof the lower .panel Thus the rising opening opening fingers come substantially tov a lixed or set `linal Yextend substantially at right angles to the general'.-planeV y of the'table Y3:2, despitethe fact that they mayor maynotY FIGURE V6 into the full line position therein byk means; offa link 111 connected by a pivot; 112 to the lever mech-` i anism 108 and also connected by a pivot y113 tojairocker` v lever 114. A journal 116 is secured to the`v rocker lever Y. 114 and is mountedy on thecross shaft 92.A The `outboard end of the rocker lever4 114 carries a Vcam follower 117 operating `in a groove 118'in aV carrik 119 secured to the l shaft 44. Asfthe shaft-44 revolves, the cam 119 llikewise As the erecting ngers 106 move from their retracted` position below the table 32, they rise through the openings 1S in the forward portion of the lower` panel and,

finding no corresponding openings in the upper panel, abut against that panel and lift it into Va, generally erect position. The ends of the erecting lingers are so disposed and their stroke is such that the linger tips end exactly at a fold line in the carton between the forward panel and the top panel thereof with the top panel in close abutment with the upright faces 102 and 103 of the erecting ead 101. The operation of the erecting fingers 1% in lifting the upper panel is greatly facilitated by the fact that the opening lingers 82 have initially spread the upper panel away from the lower panel and have initiated some of the hinge movement on the fold lines which is later augmented by the erecting fingers106. Furthermore, since there is an upward force on the carton blank as the erecting lingers 106 are operating, the hooked portion of the opening fingers 82-in overlying the now forward portion of the lower panel holds that panel substantially in con- Y tact with the plane of the table 32 and prevents undue Y rising movement of the leading portion of the lower panel. Y

Next in the sequence of operationsis the folding of the partitions 21 and 22 from their initial location substantially coplanar with the remainder ofthe carton blank into an upright position ora position at'right angles to the carton blank. Arranged to move Vfrom a retracted position behind the erecting head 101 and a forward position is a turning plunger 131 having4 a pair of cross bars 132 and 133 from which extend a plurality of turning dies 134. The plunger 131 at its lower end remote from the table 32 is mounted on a cross'shaft 13o-mounted on the frame 31. Also secured to the cross shaft 136 is a lever 137 carrying a cam follower 138 designed to run in the groove 139 of a cam 141 on the shaft 44. Asfthe shaft revolves, the follower 13S causes oscillation of the plunger 131 and causes the turning cams 134 to move from their retracted position as shown in the broken lines in FIGURE 6 and behind the erecting head to a forward position as shown by full lines in FIGURE 6. As the turning plunger moves forwardly, the cams 134 interengage withV the projecting portions of the partitions 21 and 22 and turn them about the hinge Vlines 23 and 24 and hold the partitions in a position substantially at right angles to the top and bottom of the carton blank.

While the turning plunger is still in its forward location, means are `effective to fold and erect the bottom of the carton. As particularly` shown in FIGURE 7, a folding plate 151 extending transversely across the table 32 is appropriately moved from the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 7 into the full line position shown t erein. The folding plate 151 is mounted on a pair of levers 152 carried by a shaft 153 on the frame 31. Also mounted on the shaft 153 is a lever 154 connected by a link 156 to a rocker 157 carried by a journal block 158 on a shaft 92.v

On the rocker 157 is a follower 161 operatingin a cam groove 162 cut in a cam 163 mounted on the shaft 44.

`Thus as the shaft 44 rotates, the rocker 157 serves appropriately to move the folding plate 151. At an appropriate time when the partitions are held in their finally erected position by the cams 134, the plate 151 comes into position and in doing so engages the bottom of the carton blank and l puts a central fold in it to leave an upstanding transverse ridge and to interlock the lingers 27 with the openings 28 in the partitions and to hold the ridge and the partitions in interlocked condition. Y

When the folding plate has been withdrawn to its position below the table 32, a pair of side conveyors is eective. The conveyors include a pair of side chains 166 and 167 trained aroundA appropriate sprockets on shafts 168 and 169 journalled on the frame 31. The shaft 169 is connected by achain 171 to be driven by the shaft 49 in .uni-

son with the remainder of the structure. At appropriate intervals, the chains 166 and 167 and at points opposite connection 174. A spring 176 is connected at one end to a 177 on the plate 172 and is connected at the opposite end to a pin 178 to the lever, so that the lever normally is moved intoza retracted position as shown by the broken lines in FGUREV 8. 1

As the chains 166 and 167 advancethe levers 173` approach cam rails 179 mounted on the frame 31. Rollers f l on the levers 173 abut the cam rails and roll therealong so as to pivot the levers 173 from Vthe broken line position into the full line position as shown in FIG- URE 8. As the levers pivot in this fashion, they move engaging fingers 182 into position to encounter theV projecting portions of the already erectedV carton from which the turning dies and the folding plate 151 have just been withdrawn. The conveyor then carries this erected carton in the direction of the arrow 183 in FlGURE 8 to a storage platform 184 at the discharge end of the machineand in effect constituting the terminal part of the table 32.. The

erected cartons can then be discharged from the plate 184 -in any desired fashion or can be temporarily accumulated frame,

each of said carton blanks having a lower panelwith f apertures in the leading portion thereof, means for feeding said carton blanks one ata time from said stack to an erecting zone on said frame, means for engaging a carton blank to position it at said erecting Y zone,

means on said frame and operating through said apertures for erecting an opened carton blank,

a pair of conveyor means on said frame movable along parallel paths on opposite sides of a cartonfblank from a position displaced from said erecting zone to and past said erecting zone to a delivery area,

a pair ofpusher lingers'V each' pivotally mounted about an upright axis on one of said conveyor means,

a cam means along and outward of said parallel paths extending from said erecting zone to said delivery zone and engageable by said fingers to extend saidfingers inward from said paths as they pass an erected Vcarton at said erecting zone to enter said erected carton and engage the edges of a leading upright panel thereof, and means normally biasing said lingers into retracted positions, said cam means releasing ysaid lingers at said delivery area.

References Cited bythe Examiner i UNITED STATES PATENTS Y 2,780,970 2/57 Gentry 93-37 X 2,935,917 5/60 Randles 93-37 3,015,256 l/62 Fahrenbach et al.' 93--37 3,107,588 10/63 Lobdell et al 93-53 FRANK E. BAILEY, Prrrzary Examiner. 

